The Mumbai Indians were no match for the power of Chris Gayle and some basic tactical mistakes from them saw the Royal Challengers Bangalore complete an easy win in the second Qualifier of the IPL. The win, by 43 runs for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, ensured their second entry into the final while the Mumbai Indians had to remain content with the third position and a place in the Champions League T20 later this year.
The game was being played at the M Chiamabaram stadium in Chennai, where the ball has tended to slow down as the game as progressed, which has meant that batting first would have been a good option. Instead, the Mumbai Indians captain, Sachin Tendulkar, won the toss and decided to field first.
Then again, one would have thought that the way Chris Gayle has been batting in the tournament so far, the best way to try and get the better of him would be to throw onto him your best bowlers to start off with. Again, the fans were in for a big surprise. Tendulkar opened the innings with their most inexperienced bowler in Abu Nechim, instead of going full throttle with Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh, and Gayle promptly dispatched him for 27 runs in the very first over.
From then on, it was only catch-up for the Mumbai Indians. They tried their level best but for one, Gayle had smelled blood and then again, had excellent support from Mayank Agarwal at the other end. Gayle slapped 89, missing his third century in the tournament this year while Agarwal scored a 31-ball 41 to get the side to 185 in the 20 overs.
Royal Challengers Bangalore had got 111 of these in the first ten overs and the Mumbai Indians came back well to concede only 74 in the remaining ten. However, the damage had been done and 186 was never going to be easy to chase.
Aiden Blizzard departed early and while Tendulkar did play a masterful 24-ball 40, he was deceived rather well by Syed Mohammad and dismissed. The rest of the side just followed in a heap and the team was bowled out for 142 in their 20 overs. Gayle followed his 89 with three overs in which he conceded only 11 while Daniel Vettori took 3/19 off his four overs. Syed Mohammad’s four overs went for 25 and he picked two.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore will now play the Chennai Super Kings in the final of the tournament.
